The Understanding & Translation of Figures of Speech

Trope is a kind of figure of speech most frequently used in English. It is a means to speak of one thing in terms of another. Simile is based on a comparison between two things or phenomena that have certain characteristics in common and indicates the similarity relationship of the signified and the signifier. It falls into three categories: descriptive, illustrative and illuminative. Metaphor gives the thing a name directly that belongs to something else and can be divided into judging and modifying metaphors in accordance with its nature of formation. In understanding and translating the above mentioned figures of speech, special attention should be paid to the appropriateness, brevity and originality in the application of simile and metaphor.